Stepladder



c. F. JONES STEPLADDER Oct. 30, 1951 Filed April 15, 1946 INVENTOR. E James CLARENCE FIG. 5.

A r-rcmvev Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEPLADDER Glarence E. Jones, Denver, 0010. Application April 15, 1946, Serial No. 662,115

This invention relates to improvements in step-: ladders and has reference more particularly to a small sized stepladder for use in kitchens and homes.

It is a matter of common knowledge thathousee wives are required to use a stepladder or a chair in many instances in order to reach the topmost shelves of a kitchen cabinet or in cleaning win-,- dows, adjusting curtains and the like.

It is well known that many kinds of stepladders and combination chairs and stepladders have been invented for a similar purpose.

This invention relates in particular to a stepladder which is preferably made from some light metal such as some of the lighter aluminum alloys that have great strength and low specific weight.

Another object is to produce a stepladder that can be attached to the inner surface of the ordinary kitchen sink door in such a way that when the door is closed the stepladder will be hidden away in the space underneath the sink and which, when it is to be to used, can be unfolded while still attached to the door. 7 v I A still further object of the invention is to produce a stepladder that, in addition to being so constructed that it can be attached to the kitchen sink door both while folded and not in use, and also when unfolded. It can also be removed from the door and used in any place where it is needed.

Having thus briefly described the invention,

the same will now be described in detail and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form, and in which:

Figure l is a front view of a kitchen sink showing also a portion of a kitchen cabinet and showing one of the doors in open position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2, Figure 1, and shows the latter in open or operative position;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the ladder showing the same to a larger scale than that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and shows the parts opened in position for use and showing by dotted lines how the supporting shelf can be held by means of one of the movable parts of the stepladder;

Figure 4 is a side elevation with parts broken away, showing the ladder folded against the door to which it is attached;

Figure 5 is a broken view showing the keyhole slot connected between the stepladder and the door;

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6, Figure 3; and

l Claim. (01. 228 -17) Figure '7 is a fragmentary rear elevation looking in the direction of arrows 1 T, Figure 3. 5

In the drawing numeral l0 designates an ordinary kitchen sink which is built into a cabinet of ordinary construction and reference numerals ll designate two doors that are providedfor temporarily closing the space underneath the sink. Reference numeral l2 designates thmiiging faucet and reference numerals l3 designate the doors of the kitchen cabinet, such as are usually provided above or adjacent to kitchen sinks.

Attached to the inner surface of one of the 7 doors I I is a stepladder that has been designated in its entirety by reference numeral M. This ladder is constructed along lines quite common and comprises two side members, each formed from two spaced metal bars l5 between which are pQSl: tioned steps l6 which are also of metal and are preferably spotwelded to the inner surfaces of the side bars 15.

' In the drawing the sides l5 have beenshown as flat, but it is the intention to longitudinally corrugate or flute these members to give them additional strength. Since corrugated metal for this purpose is old and well known, it has not been illustrated in detail. Two brace members I! are pivoted to the parts l5 at point I8 and have been shown as provided with a transverse bar l9 that connects the two braces in the manner shown in Figure 7. It is also contemplated to employ diagonal braces such as are usually employed in connection with stepladders constructed in a similar manner. The diagonal braces have not been shown as they are common and would merely complicate the drawing.

It will be seen that brace members I1 are positioned on the outside of the ladder proper and that, due to the position of the bar 19, they may be folded into a position in which they are superposed on the corresponding ladder support 15, as shown in Figure 4. Sash cord or other flexible members 20 are connected with the inner surfaces of the rear members I5 and to the bar l9 in the manner indicated in the drawing. Any other suitable tension members may be employed, such as the usual folding links quite common in connection with stepladders. The stepladder so far described differs very little from the ordinary ladder, except in regard to the material from which it is made.

My improvement consists in providing a shelf or table 2| which is provided at its sides with downwardly extending flanges 22 making the cross section channel shaped. This table is pivplace around the house. Table 2| serves to support a pan containing cleaning fluid or water or any tools or implements that are to be used-.

Normally, the channel pivoted at 25' isattached to the inner surface of door ll by means of headed bolts 2'! that pass through keyhole-slots" 28 in the manner shown in Figure 5.' Theparts are so proportioned that, when the stepladder'is collapsedby moving thetable 2| clockwise from the position; shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4, the upper end thereof will not extend above, the top of the door to which itis attached and at the same time the attachment is effected at such a place that when the stepladder is unfolded as shown in Figure 2,-theladder proper, as well as brace members i! willrest on the floor." V r The upper shelves in-the kitchen cabinets are usually so high that the housewife must stand'on a chair or on a stepladder and they are also usually positioned directly over or to one side of the sink and therefore in order to reach these shelves,

the housewife may merely unfold the ladder, as shown in Figure 2, without removing it from the door. If, for any reason the ladder is to be used any other place, it may be detached and used separately as indicated in Figure 3.

It is to be unde'rstood that any usual form of metal construction either longitudinally fiuted or with reenforced edges, can be used and applicant does not intend to limit'himselfto the specific "transverse cross section of'the material employed by him except insofar as members 2| and 23are v,

4 concerned which are preferably channel-shaped to give rigidity and strength without unduly increasing the weight.

Having described the invention What is claimed as new is:

A stepladder of the type adapted to be secured to a kitchen cabinet door, or the like, comprising: a ladder portion having spaced sides, each side comprising two spaced bars secured together at each step and adjacent their tops and two spaced braces secured by pivot pins to the sides, a table having a flat top and flanges extending along the entire length of the side edges of the top, the 'pivot extending through said flanges near corresponding ends thereof, whereby the top may be tilted from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical folded position, a cross bar extending between said braces intermediate their ends, a plate pivotally connected to said flanges adjacent their opposite ends, saidplate having notch means adapted to engage said cross bar; and cooperative securing means disposed between, the side edges of said plate adapted to secure it against the side of the cabinet door, thelconstruction and arrangement being such that when the stepladder is folded the table portion thereof and said plate may be juxtaposed tothe door and the entire ladder supported by the door for swinging movement carrying the ladder therewith, and when the ladder is unfolded, the table maybe in a horizontal position with the ladder resting on a floor, adjacent the door.

' CLARENCE F. JONES.

7 REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

